[hinckley buzzard]

I found plenty of ad hominem hostility on both sides. The pro-Michael posters had enough insensitivity and bile to match the most rabid go-get-'em Terri booster.I never took it on myself to tell anyone to leave, and if some did, they were out of line. Those who did leave are losses to the forum, and that's too bad.

I value the free flow of ideas and information, that's a big reason I'm here, and don't want to silence anyone, but I was totally turned off by the terri wars. All heat and no light. I hope we don't have a recurrence. That's all.

[ClancyJ]

Agree. Can't believe America was so divided over it.

I'm afraid there were two things at least that clouded the controversy....

- the fact that many have had to make decisions about loved ones and therefore jumped to the conclusion that the Terri-supporters were saying they were wrong. Which, in reality, was not the case at all. Terri was not in a dying state whereas most such decisions are of relatives that are in a dying state or at the end of a killer disease and decisions were made to not prolong the inevitable.

- the states vs. federal aspects. Many felt that no matter what - the federal government should stay out of it. While others did not realize the difference other than a woman's constitutional rights were being abused.